He told L'Equipe: "I have not taken anything from anyone. I took two or three things that I thought was good for all of them. The same with Jose Mourinho.

"I am fed by his ambition, discipline and rigor. I have adapted to the person I am. I built my own philosophy. I started young, but what has not changed is my line of thought. Ecological methodology and working with the ball. To reach the level that is mine today I have behind me 22 years of daily practice of the profession.